From My Seat: Norwich (A)

But this team, Martinez's team have no answer to teams that decide it's do or die. We simply cave in and all composure of the first half goes out of the window.

I agree that Cleverley was the only player to have a good first and 2nd half. Marallis had zero impact for someone that a lot of people on here were crying out for him to play.

It's going to be a cold miserable Xmas if Mr Happy brown shoes does not get his shit together. But he won't, knowing that his job is safe. So expect more of the same, those of you who think that we are on the brink of special then let me remind you that Santa is not real, but don't tell the kids that.

It seems like it all hinges on the chance after the goal. Yesterday it fell to Kone, who, let's admit it, isn't going to win us many games. He is a good footballer with a nice touch but a deadly striker he will never be and seems too slow to make his mind up to ever be a real threat.

Mirallas must be a better option in my eyes. Yes, he is out of form and favour, but he is a better finisher than Kone.

Needs Sorting Fast!!

In the end, thanks to Jerome's miss, we were "fortunate" to come away with a point.

This team has no killer instinct, that's why they'll never win anything.

The manager has to shoulder some responsibility, but the players also need to be held accountable.

Cant believe I am writing this but Martinez has got playing brilliant football, However.....

We Need a new goalkeeper badly (I have always liked Howard) We need a keeper that is the Boss and horrid Bastard that shouts and bullies and will cause a train wreck coming for the ball. We really need it because Howard's passive game doesn't help our defenders.

We to practice defending crosses and set plays because this is the only way we are conceding.

Also we should get rid of Naismith and Kev because that money would afford us to bring in a genuine Goalscorer, as Kone's legs seem to go after 60 minutes.

One word that sums us up FRUSTRATING!!

We definitely do need a top-class keeper; even if Howard was great, which he ain't, the fact remains he's 37 in March... He's useless anyway, he's a bottler who admittedly doesn't like getting hurt. You only needed to hear his comments when Wayne Rooney got his head stitched.

Yes, we need a horrible nasty bastard, someone who isn't pretty tippy-tappy, someone like Shawcross or Dann last summer would have been my preference. They are not class on the ball but they are hard men, they are leaders of men who are vocal.

You often question when we keep conceding the same type of goals on a weekly basis, where is our voice in the back five? Where is our leader, who is barking orders and finger pointing? Yes, Stones is gorgeous on the ground but he needs a man-mountain next to him; I'm not convinced Funes Mori is going to be this man, it's early days but he does seem rather quiet, and he loses a lot of his aerial duels.

Jagielka is not the answer either as we have witnessed; again, he's 34 next summer. Galloway and Browning are both rookies and, for the hardships of central defence, it's a big ask to throw them in there yet.

Martinez failed to rectify the problem areas we suffered with last season – that's the biggest criticism I can make of him. He knew last season we had a massive problem defending any crossed balls, set-pieces in the area, he knew we had a goalkeeper who is blatantly unwilling to come and even attempt to take the pressure of the defence but he has failed dismally at finding an answer to this dilemma.

£5 million plus young Rudd and they can have Naismith!!

It's highly unlikely now because they are both so important to their respective clubs but we damned well need to do something soon. It's become a joke really now, you wouldn't even see it so often on a Sunday league mud pitch, the same mistakes made, week-in & week out.

Having said all of that, we are playing some terrific football, and if we keep playing the same way we will convert more of the chances we make. The bigger worry would be if we weren't creating chances.

I don't think anyone will be sold in January, but I think the results between now and the end of the season could help determine what Lukaku, Stones and Deulofeu decide to do. Should we be able to keep all 3 for the start of next season, then I think we could be in for a good season. But I think we would have to get Europa League at least to have any chance of keeping these players.

All the coaching in the world on how to deal with corners will not sort this problem – you don't need to be coached how to do this. We need the right personnel who will naturally attack the ball rather than allow an opponent to get to it first and our current players are not that type, no matter how well they are coached.

A goalie has up to 24 inches more height with his arms stretched than an outfield player and, as Jim says ,he doesn't need to catch it – just punch it and get it out of harm's way.

Joel is around 6 feet 5 inches which already gives him a huge advantage over most players and he should be given a proper run in the side; then sign a big hairy CB in January to partner Stones if he stays.

We need a Dave Watson or Mick Lyons type who will see any ball in the air as theirs and they didn't need coaching to get like that – it was the way they were.

All our league victories this season have come when we have scored three or more goals. We need to learn how to eke out the 1-0 or 2-1 wins when our main goal scorer is not firing on all cylinders.

City, United and the Arse all attacked and all three of them won, Spurs attacked us but were just unlucky as we spawned a point at there place. All the other teams have tried to contain us and have allowed us time with the ball, but with out fail, I mean as sure as Tuesday follows Monday, they will have an opportunity to put the ball into our area from a corner or free kick and hey fucking presto, we concede a goal. No tippy tappy shit, no keep the ball for 20 passes, just get a corner then several Everton players will go into deep mental torture and the opposition will score. Simples.

Martinez probably knows this. He must, because at Goodison, when any opposition team gets a corner or a dead ball kick that is going to end up in our defensive area, all I see are fellow blues with their fingers over their eyes, fellow blues looking at their feet, fuck me, they are probably praying.

For me, when the opposition get a corner, it's almost feels like they have been awarded a penalty.

I see Ruddy on the bench, a swap for Naisy??

Good honest report that slightly disguises your growing frustration with the two different Evertons on display the last few games.

I don't think they will change under this manager and he is as culpable as the players... more so as he is the only one to change the way we fall asleep at different phases of the game.

Add to this the fact that we cannot defend corners. Defensively we are soft and will continue to be whilst our keeper twitches and trembles on his line or behind it at times. That said, it is time our defenders man-up and take some responsibility. They are soft too giving time and space for free headers or just weak challenges. Yes, even John Stones who just needs to man-up, full stop. He has more lie-downs than my grandkids used to.

Going forward, we are just so wasteful. Not just yesterday – though who else just knew that we would regret not taking the half-dozen gilt-edged chances in the 1st half. Decision-making/judgement has collectively been shocking but our manager continues to blow smoke up the team's arses, telling anyone who will listen how phenomenal and fuckin unique they all are.

In our last three games, we couldn't beat the might of Bournemouth, Palace and Norwich... but hey, we scored goals for fun against Sunderland who had no defence even Kone got three and against the worst ever Villa side who had no team at all.

We flatter to deceive and mid-table is all we will achieve with Howard in goal and Martinez in charge. Talented squad of players with no direction or leadership.

Watson's response was:

"I didn't want him to see I was hurt."

Do we actually have that type of man at Everton these days?

For the first time, I sense a lot of frustration in your report. For me, we are far too reliant on Lukaku and keep looking to feed the ball to him. Kone, Deulofeu and Barkley are not consistent goalscorers and we seemed to have discouraged Coleman and Baines from scoring.

I understand leaving Naismith on the bench but can't understand not giving Mirallas a game. The other thing that I can't understand is why Lukaku is not in the box defending corners.

Our kid reckons we should put in a cheeky bid for Rooney... Say what you want but it could be a good shout.

I agree with giving Robles a run the games this season; when he has played, he comes for the ball. Okay, he punches sometimes which I am not a fan of, but at least he is not glued to the line.

I am frustrated but not disappointed. I just hope Bobby has a plan in place for the end of the season as, because of age more than anything, there are at least 6-7 squad players that need replacing.

I think there are still a few out there like that, granted not many but the likes of Shawcross, Dann, maybe a few other's like James Collins at West Ham seem like guy's that don't mind getting hurt.

But we would have to get a Mick Lyons / Dave Watson – a tough uncompromising defender, a Kevin Ratcliffe type captain who would take no shit off anybody – your opponent or your own players.

There's got to be somebody out there somewhere (hasn't there)? I know, easier said than done. Here's hoping. COYB.

Deulofeu?

Couldn't help but think of the bit from the film Deliverance..."Squeal, Piggy, Piggy"

Over the years, we have had fantastic defenders and goalies, too many to list, but today in both departments we are sadly lacking, now even when we take a two goal lead you can sense the unease spreading through the faithful as we allow the opposition to hit back with the almost certain outcome.

That this can't go on goes without saying,something or someone has to come up with a solution Evertonians have waited far too long for the halcyon days of the ''School Of Science'' as we, yet again, stand to play second fiddle to 'them' across the park.

I love Gerry but he's got to toughen up as he gets older and grow a thicker skin, possibly the same as Ross Barkley and Stonesey to some extent.

At least the penny seems to have dropped with Lukaku now, a more mature player, tougher.

Oh, for the days of a Johnny Morrissey. Ask Jack Charlton.

Deulofeu has got to stop this rolling around. He makes himself a target for refs and the opposition fans, and he stopped playing after about 60 minutes yesterday. He just needs to keep his head down and concentrate on beating his man.

Secondly, we seem to only have plan A. Now that is fine if you are so good you will steamroller every team you come up against. But if not, you have to cut your cloth accordingly. Sometimes that means making yourself harder to beat, seeing out a game so that you protect a lead. Well we have just thrown away 6 points, so we are clearly not doing this side of things. Unless we get 2 goals up, we are just as likely to throw a game away as win it.

I'd like to see some old school values in the team sometimes. I love some of the play we have produced of late. But we need to be less naive if we are to make progress.

I agree with your entire post there. Yes, Deulofeu, this season more so than his first, seems to be playing too much to the crowd, mainly letting opposing fans wind him up. But what he's got to realise is he's winding them up with some of his antics so he's got to expect stick in return, he should be encouraged to concentrate on what he's doing so well this season and that's being our main creator.

Your second point, that we only have a Plan A is also true. At the very moment as an attacking force anyway it's basically just been the Gerry and Rom show hasn't it? It does worry me slightly if Deulofeu got injured at any point, would we go back to being rather blunt?

Yes there are some good performance levels put in by Kone and one or two others, still not convinced Barkley is taking the game by the scruff like we know he can, despite him adding more goals this season it still feels there's something missing.

The key to our attack this season will clearly be Deulofeu and Lukaku, it's become like Baines - Pienaar from the Moyes era.

Maybe we should enjoy it while it lasts, but yes, we should most definitely have a Plan B and even C.

If they are sold and we get injuries to Deulofeu or Lukaku then immediately what looks like having experienced options on the bench becomes very limited weak options.

If sold, they must be replaced!

Stones, as others have said, needs a bully centre-half next to him; Funes Mori doesn't look to be that player.

He has really proven what he can do this season but his "down time" is unacceptable. When he wants it he is frighteningly good. When he doesn't it's an insult to all the fans who pay good money. Why don't people call him out for this? He gets away with murder.

If he had Kone's attitude, he would be incredible. We need a player on the pitch that kicks arse – a Souness, Keane character.

It's not good enough to leave players sitting on the bench who can offer something when the ones on the pitch aren't cutting the mustard.

Think a proper keeper would make a big difference to our defence – Robles must be given a chance.

Don't understand how Mirallas can be judged to be off form when he doesn't get a start – should get a run in the side ahead of Kone, Barkley or Deulofeu – the last 2 don't do enough to help the team get the ball back – and Barkley needs to quicken up.

Still peddling your anti-Lukaku bile I see. You question his attitude and claim he is getting "away with murder". Let me remind you what you said about him as a footballer just over two months ago.

"His ability as a footballer is very poor. I don't think I've seen a player with such a poor touch, he can't jump, his runs lack intelligence for this level, and his right foot has absolutely no sense of direction – it's his swinger."

Last month you claimed his improvement was down to Big Dunc, the legend centre forward who scored at the princely rate of 1 in 4, a player who could only dream of Lukaku's goal scoring rate and who in my memory certainly struggled with attitude.

14 goals in 19 games and the first Everton player in forty years to score in seven consecutive games.

Maybe you are a better judge of attitude than footballing ability, but I wouldn't be betting on it.

I stand by the fact that he isn't a good footballer, he's a big athletic lad who can finish. His touch has improved but we will see games where it is not up to standard, his ability in the air has improved. And Graham... for what it's worth, if we stuck a fit prime Duncan ferguson in this team you would see many goals.

Lukaku isn't that talented that he can afford to coast, and we aren't good enough to have a luxury player.

Although, I said then that I was delighted to sign him: I just thought his fee was a bit exorbitant. I actually had a running argument with the excellent Jim Knightley who is possibly his biggest fan and made some good, positive arguments which have proved accurate.

To be fair, his touch WAS poor, and his aerial prowess sadly lacking for such a big man. But he must have done some serious work to develop into the player he is right now. I recall saying that I hoped he could become the player we want him to be. I think he is rapidly becoming that player. My only fear now is that he and his agent won't allow us a year or so more to reap what we've sown.

Incidentally, I imagine if you put "odious little runt" into Google, you'd see his agents face....

How can you possibly describe a player who has scored 51 goals in 101 games a 'luxury'? Regular goalscoring is now considered a luxury?

It seems to me that being a 'big athletic lad who can finish' are pretty good attributes for a centre forward.

There is a difference between form and ability. I'd be the first to say he was distinctly average at times last season, he certainly appeared short of confidence. However even in that poor season he managed 20 goals.

This season is showing he is one of the top forwards in the PL. And when it comes to attitude, I really don't see this 'laziness' that some refer to. Considering he has played more minutes than any other player this season ie every single game he doesn't appear to be shirking to me.

I see that in him and it's not something that will cure easily. I'm not comparing myself to a professional but I see the exact things I did when I would try and go through the motions and kid my team mates.

He could be a world class goalscorer, I just think he lacks the heart.

We certainly do see things differently. As for you amateur footballing insights, I'm probably best just leaving it out there.

I know stats aren't the be all and end all but I'd love to know the stats in terms of the yards he's run this season, because I get the impression he's covering more ground. I certainly don't see him as lazy. Any stats anybody?

Good job we didn't sign a small, non-athletic guy who can't finish. Unless he could score a goal every second game.

I play golf to scratch and I certainly share traits with golfers of higher handicaps. So less of the elitist nonsense.

It doesn't matter if you are playing on a local park or at Wembley, if you know the mechanics and psychology of the game it's all very similar after all its played by humans.

What myself, and I believe you do as well, is, "Why does it take about the 70-min mark to start to make changes?"

Even after watching the game on TV, it is always good to read your reports that give an honest unbiased report of the game.

We have got a player who reminds me of Morrisey – Mo Besic. I don't know what has happened to him but he is a tough lad. Galloway is fearless but Besic is fearless and scary.

Put those two together on the left hand side of our defence and there would be no prisoners taken. They can both play too.

A different sort of player, yes, but he also has the hard-as-nails appearance and attributes that we lack, in my opinion. Not so sure about his disciplinary mind-set, though.